John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was the most famous and influential British moral philosopher of the nineteenth century. He was one of the last systematic philosophers, making significant contributions in logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, and social theory. He was also an important public figure, articulating the liberal platform, pressing for various liberal reforms, and serving in Parliament. Mill’s greatest philosophical influence was in moral and political philosophy, especially his articulation and defense of utilitarian moral theory and liberal political philosophy. This entry will examine Mill’s moral and political philosophy selectively, reconstructing the central elements of his contributions to the utilitarian and liberal traditions. To understand Mill’s defense of utilitarian and liberal principles, we will concentrate on his two most popular and best known works – Utilitarianism (1861) and On Liberty (1859) – though we will draw on other texts when this sheds light on our interpretation of these two texts. We will conclude by looking at how Mill applies his utilitarian and liberal principles to issues of political and sexual equality in Considerations on Representative Government (1859), Principles of Political Economy (1848), and The Subjection of Women (1869).
